A life based on a personal code of values brings meaning, purpose, and direction to living. Follow the process in this article to clarify values and align your life.
Clarifying your personal code of values forms a strong foundation for personal growth and development. A life consciously based on personal values is fulfilling and meaningful and may help you answer the question: what is the meaning of life?
What are Values?
Your personal code of values are what's important to you; not something you want or would like to have, but something you literally need in your life to be true to yourself. A value is a principle or quality intrinsically valuable or desirable to you. Values are personal. They are your convictions, your beliefs, and your ethics rolled into one.
Who You Are
Living the values based life helps you define who you are in the grand scheme of life. Being grounded in the characteristics and qualities you value provides meaning and purpose to life, helping you answer the questions: who am I and why am I here?
Being clear about your personal code of values offers these benefits to life:
- The values based life is meaningful
- Life purpose is clearer when based on values
- Life vision and goals are clear
- Decisions are easier
- Choices are clear
- Stress is reduced
- Life is easier
Determining and clarifying your values
Coming up with a list of your values may seem a breeze at first, but it takes thoughtful reflection to converge on the unique set of personal values that are most important to you for a happy, fulfilling life.
There are hundreds of words in the English language describing a value. Deciding which describe your values can be overwhelming at first because it is difficult to separate what you do value from what you think you should value and from what everyone else values.
Determine Your Values
An effective way to quickly identify your unique values set is this:
- Make a list of things very important in your life--so important that you can't be happy without them. Your first draft may be very long. You'll narrow it down in subsequent steps.
- Revisit each value you listed and identify why you listed it. What is it about this value that causes you to believe it's one of your core values. Do you need it in your life to be happy? Without it would life seem intolerable? If there's any doubt, strike it out.
- Repeat this process until you have a short list of about six values clearly describing what you need for life to be meaningful and fulfilling.
Values Based Life
If you have a good feel for your unique set of life values, it's time to measure your current life roles against the values list. The goal is to maximize alignment with your values.
First examine the major aspects and roles of your life and reflect upon how each role allows you to express your values. Is there room for greater expression? For each life role, list the primary values you display and ways you might accentuate them.
Values Conflicts
Now look for values conflicts. Does a particular life role conflict with your values? Values conflicts cause life dissatisfaction, high levels of stress and frustration, and the feeling of being overwhelmed and out of balance. What aspect of this role presents the conflict? What can be changed to reduce or eliminate the conflict?
Build Your Life on Values
With a clear understanding of your unique set of personal values, you'll be positioned to create your life to maximize values alignment, eliminating or modifying life roles that include values conflicts.
Related Articles:
Topical Index of all Personal Development Articles
